Steve Clarke delivers damning Scotland verdict despite win over Belarus: 'Most disappointed I've been in 72 games'

[ad_1] Steve Clarke stated Scotland's "head-scratcher" of a efficiency of their 2-1 World Cup qualifying win over Belarus was probably the most dissatisfied he has felt since taking cost of the nationwide staff.

It was a momentous evening for Clarke at Hampden Park as he took cost of the nationwide facet for a record-breaking 72nd time, and it all optimistic when striker Che Adams scored after quarter-hour, however the dwelling facet did not kick on.

Belarus had a purpose disallowed within the second half for a foul on Scotland midfielder Scott McTominay within the build-up earlier than the Napoli star struck within the 84th minute with a end from 10 yards.

However Belarus substitute Hleb Kuchko's strike in added time introduced extra nerves again to the unimpressed Tartan Military and a few boos had been heard at full-time.

However, dwelling wins over Greece and Belarus this month imply the Scots have 10 factors together with leaders Denmark, and a assured top-two end as they put together to journey to face the already-eliminated Greeks and host Denmark subsequent month to conclude the marketing campaign.

Clarke, whose facet now want simply two wins to qualify for the World Cup, stated: "I am actually dissatisfied - actually, actually dissatisfied.

"It is presumably as dissatisfied as I have been over the entire 72 video games. We simply did not flip up.

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"However earlier than I am going down that route, and also you begin asking me questions on why I am feeling like that, it is also to level out that performances do not get you qualification. And tonight was actually not a efficiency.

"However we received three factors and that is six factors from the double-header so we're actually happy about that, as everybody with a Scottish connection might be.

"However the efficiency was means under par.

'It is a head-scratcher' <img class="sdc-article-image__item" loading="lazy" intrinsicsize="768x432" src="https://e0.365dm.com/25/10/768x432/skysports-steve-clarke-scotland_7049282.jpg?20251012191917" srcset="https://e0.365dm.com/25/10/384x216/skysports-steve-clarke-scotland_7049282.jpg?20251012191917 380w, https://e0.365dm.com/25/10/768x432/skysports-steve-clarke-scotland_7049282.jpg?20251012191917 760w, https://e0.365dm.com/25/10/1600x900/skysports-steve-clarke-scotland_7049282.jpg?20251012191917 1024w, https://e0.365dm.com/25/10/2048x1152/skysports-steve-clarke-scotland_7049282.jpg?20251012191917 2048w" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 1024px, 100vw" alt="Scotland remain unbeaten in Group C" data-testid="article-image-image"/> Picture: Scotland stay unbeaten in Group C Clarke continued: "It is a head-scratcher. However I will go away, I will take a look, and we'll analyse it.

"We'll have a look at what now we have to do higher and the way we may be extra cohesive as a staff with out the ball.

"And the way now we have to be higher as a staff when now we have possession.

"I've advised them that within the dressing room, in order that they know what my emotions are.

"However I've received a terrific religion in them and I belief them completely. And I do know that subsequent month they're going to be a unique animal."

'Why would the gamers be nervous?' <img class="sdc-article-image__item" loading="lazy" intrinsicsize="768x432" src="https://e0.365dm.com/25/10/768x432/skysports-football-che-adams_7049182.jpg?20251012172316" srcset="https://e0.365dm.com/25/10/384x216/skysports-football-che-adams_7049182.jpg?20251012172316 380w, https://e0.365dm.com/25/10/768x432/skysports-football-che-adams_7049182.jpg?20251012172316 760w, https://e0.365dm.com/25/10/1600x900/skysports-football-che-adams_7049182.jpg?20251012172316 1024w, https://e0.365dm.com/25/10/2048x1152/skysports-football-che-adams_7049182.jpg?20251012172316 2048w" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 1024px, 100vw" alt="Scotland's Che Adams celebrates after scoring a goal against Belarus" data-testid="article-image-image"/> Picture: Scotland's Che Adams celebrates after scoring a purpose in opposition to Belarus Requested If nerves had performed a component, the previous Studying, West Brom and Kilmarnock boss stated: "They cannot be nervous. Why would they be nervous? Most of them have performed in massive video games earlier than.

"I do not assume you may blame nerves. If it is nerves, I feel I will want to talk to the physician."

Regardless of one other three factors in direction of the 2026 finals in North America subsequent summer time, the Tartan Military vented their frustrations on the finish of the sport.

Clarke stated: "That appears to be the best way of the fashionable recreation. Every little thing now's prompt. Everybody has an opinion within the first minute of the sport, the tenth minute of the sport, the twentieth.

"Everybody has a unique opinion relying on how the sport flows.

"If the followers had been dissatisfied with the efficiency tonight, they need to take just a little consolation within the truth the top coach was additionally dissatisfied."

'It would not really feel like a win' <img class="sdc-article-image__item" loading="lazy" intrinsicsize="768x432" src="https://e0.365dm.com/25/10/768x432/skysports-mctominay-scott-kieran_7049281.jpg?20251012191835" srcset="https://e0.365dm.com/25/10/384x216/skysports-mctominay-scott-kieran_7049281.jpg?20251012191835 380w, https://e0.365dm.com/25/10/768x432/skysports-mctominay-scott-kieran_7049281.jpg?20251012191835 760w, https://e0.365dm.com/25/10/1600x900/skysports-mctominay-scott-kieran_7049281.jpg?20251012191835 1024w, https://e0.365dm.com/25/10/2048x1152/skysports-mctominay-scott-kieran_7049281.jpg?20251012191835 2048w" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 1024px, 100vw" alt="Scott McTominay celebrates with Kieran Tierney after scoring to make it 2-0 " data-testid="article-image-image"/> Picture: Scott McTominay celebrates with Kieran Tierney after scoring to make it 2-0 Scotland captain Andy Robertson was equally as important of his facet's show in opposition to Belarus.

"It would not really feel good," he advised BBC Scotland.

"We may be sincere with that. It would not really feel like a win on the minute and I feel you may see that by our response on the finish which is vastly irritating. The efficiency is nowhere close to the place we'd like it to be.

"In the beginning of the week we'd have taken the six factors and we are able to look again in November at the place we're [and be pleased with it] however presently strolling off the pitch it would not really feel good.

"We gave them far too many possibilities. I do not know if we had been drained from Thursday evening, we put rather a lot into that one, however that is no excuse.

"We weren't good on or off the ball, at instances we did properly. We might have, with barely higher decision-making, had a pair extra possibilities.

"It is a vastly irritating evening, we felt that within the stands, I did not fairly perceive it on Thursday however I perceive it tonight. We'll take that on board however come November we have got the prospect to go to a World Cup and that is what we're targeted on."

McKenna reveals Clarke half-time fury

Scotland defender Scott McKenna revealed head coach Clarke was "livid" with the gamers at half-time:

"The three factors are completely large.

"I feel efficiency clever we let ourselves down tonight, the one optimistic we are able to take is that we scored two targets and managed to get three factors.

"At half-time the supervisor got here in however he was completely livid with us.

"We did not win any first balls, did not win any second balls both. Belarus most likely regarded extra harmful than us over the 90 minutes."

McGinn sees 'wild' facet of Clarke <div class="sdc-article-widget sdc-site-video sdc-article-widget callfn" data-account-id="6057984924001" data-amp-iframe-embed="" data-asset-id="fd098c94-8d02-4dc5-8b4f-104a9acf2926" data-asset-path="" data-asset-version="" data-autoplay="false" data-auth-config="{"url":"https://api.condatis.sky/auth/video/token","tokenRequired":true,"fetchMethod":"url","fetchOptions":{"encoded":true},"headers":{"X-SkyGDP-Proposition":"sportweb","X-SkyGDP-Territory":"GB","Authorization":"OGY5ZDgxZjRhNzYwNGQ3MTljMjFhMDJlOGVmODRhYzA="}}" data-caption="Following his side's World Cup qualifier victory against Belarus, John Mcginn revealed Steve Clarke's wild half-time team talk." data-clip-type="" data-component-name="sdc-site-video" data-component-name-alias="ui-sitewide-video" data-competition="" data-copy-url-text="URL copied to clipboard" data-fn="sdc-site-video" data-id="id_fd098c94-8d02-4dc5-8b4f-104a9acf2926" data-is-live-stream="false" data-lite="true" data-options="" data-originator-id="49" data-originator-handle="brightcove-sport-gb" data-package-name="" data-provider="brightcove" data-player-id="DESF5xFjJ" data-playsinline="" data-sensitive="" data-sdc-id="7049332" data-sdc-video-id="fd098c94-8d02-4dc5-8b4f-104a9acf2926" data-sport-category="" data-state="loading" data-token-state="none" data-video-ad-unit="videoplayer" data-video-blacklisted-originator-ids="" data-video-id="ref:fd098c94-8d02-4dc5-8b4f-104a9acf2926" data-video-type="" data-auto-pause-on-not-visible="" tabindex="-1" data-closed-captions-position="" data-show-closed-captions="true" data-show-pip="" data-show-live-stream-scrubber="" data-autoload="" data-testid="sitewide-video"> Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant

<img loading="lazy" src="https://e0.365dm.com/25/10/768x432/skysports-clarke-mcginn_7049337.jpg?20251012211120" alt="mcginn clarke" srcset="https://e0.365dm.com/25/10/768x432/skysports-clarke-mcginn_7049337.jpg?20251012211120 600w,https://e0.365dm.com/25/10/1600x900/skysports-clarke-mcginn_7049337.jpg?20251012211120" aria-hidden="true" class="sdc-site-video__poster-img excluded-image" data-testid="sitewide-video-poster"/> Following his facet's World Cup qualifier victory in opposition to Belarus, John Mcginn revealed Steve Clarke's wild half-time staff speak. In the meantime, John McGinn noticed a "wild" facet of Clarke he had by no means witnessed earlier than as Scotland laboured within the supervisor's record-breaking 72nd recreation in cost.

"At half-time, and deservedly so, was the wildest I've seen him in 72 video games," McGinn stated. "However he is been good not only for me, however for the nation and the group.

"I feel he has a number of video games left in him but. An enormous milestone however he is rightly indignant. However he has once more received us in a terrific place in a qualifying group. That may't be forgotten."

Clarke earned a spherical of applause from his gamers for his achievement when he returned to the dressing room after the match, however his temper was solely barely higher.

"I feel he was a bit extra dissatisfied than indignant," McGinn stated. "At half-time you will have issues to enhance and work on.

"Was it a wee bit higher within the second half? Most likely not. We're not naïve sufficient to assume that. However what we did do is recover from the road.